The USGBC Massachusetts Chapter "promotes the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings and communities in Massachusetts..." Here, we showcase what the community is up to: who we are and what we do.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Thank you LDa - you rock!LDa came into the Chapter Community during our LEED Project Showcase with three certified projects - two homes and a residential community at a college. Great examples of important green design work enabling Massachusetts to continue to be a leader in green building.

LEED Platinum - Weston Jesuit Community Housing at Boston College

LDa is committed to finding a meaningful balance between the traditions of New England architecture and the demands of contemporary living. For the last 20 years, their award winning projects have provided clients with thoughtful and inspired residential and interior design solutions rich in detail and craft with a focus on lasting value and sustainability. LDa engages clients in a process of collaborative, responsive design, resulting in comfortable, functional, and timeless spaces. LDa is a leader in sustainable design, having completed over a dozen LEED for Homes projects.You can find more information about LDa at their website,

and on facebook,and at their blog!Thank you to Douglas Dick and Peter Nobile for connecting with us, and the Amanda Hanley for coordinating the relationship. We look forward to having you on board and working with us to make more green buildings in Massachusetts!

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Congratulations to the Green Giants of the green building community in Western Massachusetts.

The West Branch of the USGBC MA Chapter has recognized outstanding contributors to the growth of our movement.

The winners were recognized at a joint USGBC MA West Branch & AIA Western Mass. annual dinner event on Dec. 4th, 2013. Over 60 people came out to celebrate the Green Giants and to hear from a series of presenters on local architecture and planning successes.

The following is a synopsis by Laura Fitch, the organizer of the Green Giants program:

Green
Giants - 2013 Green Building Local Hero Awards Program

Sponsored
by the US Green Building Council Massachusetts – West Branch
(USGBCMA-West)

Committee:
Laura Fitch, Aelan Tierney Jon Birtwell, Lawson Wulsin

Jury:
Grey Lee, Sandra Brock, Phoebe Beierle, Stephen Muzzy

The
Green Giants Award Program was created by our chapter to honor the
work of trades people, educators, and owners/program directors who
help build, teach about, envision and fund the green buildings in
Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire counties. This program
is intentionally distinct from other building design awards in its
attempt to look at and honor a wider range of participants behind the
sustainable building movement in our region.

Buildings
consume a huge percentage of our energy and resources and create a
tremendous amount of waste. In this time of global climate change,
the USGBC is actively promoting green buildings as part of the
solution. This goal however is largely implemented by Trades People,
Educators or Building Owners – the true unsung heroes in this
critical movement.

We
chose to award 7 people in 3 categories. The following summarizes
the presentation made regarding these recipients at the awards event:

Trades
Category

The
Green Giants Program sought to recognize individuals from any
building trade or maintenance program who have gone the extra mile to
ensure that a building (or campus) meets its sustainability goals.

Green
Giants sought to recognize any teacher or organization behind an
innovative green building program that inspires and actively teaches
the next generation of designers, engineers, and trades people who
will in their turn advance our green building revolution.